Fluent

Overview

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
Solution Parameters
Set Solution Parameters
Choosing the Solver

Discretization Schemes Initialize

Initialization Enable Solution Monitors

Convergence
Calculate a Solution
Monitoring Convergence
Modify the Solution
Stability Converged? Parameters or the Mesh

Setting Under-relaxation

Setting Courant number Yes No

Accelerating Convergence
Accurate? No
Accuracy
Grid Independence
Yes Stop
Adaptation
ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
Menu is laid out such that order of operation is
generally left to right.
Import (scale) the mesh file
Select physical models
Define material properties
Prescribe operating
conditions
Prescribe boundary
conditions
Provide an initial solution
Set solver controls
Set up convergence
monitors
Compute and monitor
solution Ahmadi/Nazridoust
ME 437/537/637
Fluent
Overview
Mouse button functionality depends on
solver and can be configured in the
solver
Display Menu Mouse Buttons...
Default Settings:
2D Solver

Left button translates (dolly)

Middle button zooms

Right button selects/probes

3D Solver

Left button rotates about 2-axes

Middle button zooms

Right button selects/probes

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
Components are defined in
preprocessor
Cell = control volume into which node
cell
domain is broken up center
computational domain is defined by face
mesh that represents the fluid and
solid regions of interest. cell

Face = boundary of a cell 2D mesh

Edge = boundary of a face

Node = grid point

Zone = group of nodes, faces, and/or node

cells
edge
Boundary data assigned to face cell
face
zones.
3D mesh
Material data and source terms
assigned to cell zones.
ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to
File Menu Read Case

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
Fluent assumes that all physical dimensions are initially in
meters.
The default unit system in Fluent is Metric (SI) units.

How to
Grid Menu

Check
Grid Menu

Scale
Grid Menu

Translate

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview

How to
Display Menu Grid

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview

How to
Define Menu
Models Solver

Define Menu
Models Viscous

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to
Define Menu Materials Fluent Database
Physical models may Multiple Species

require additional material (Single Phase) Flows
properties need to be
defined. Mixture Material concept
Single-Phase, Single
employed
Species Flows Mixture properties

Define fluid/solid
(composition
properties dependent)
defined separately
Real gas model
from constituents
Multiple Phase Flows
properties.
(Single Species)
Component properties
Define properties for
must be defined.
all fluids and solids.
ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to
Define Menu
Materials Fluent
Database

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
To formulate a problem that results in a
unique solution, the relevant variables at
the domain boundaries must be defined.
Specifying velocity, temperature and
pressure or fluxes of mass, momentum,
energy.

Defining boundary conditions involves:

i. identifying the location of the
boundaries (e.g., inlets, walls,
symmetry)
ii. supplying information at the boundaries
ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to Define Menu Boundary Conditions
Select Zones
Boundary Condition Types of External Faces
General: Pressure inlet, Pressure outlet

Incompressible: Velocity inlet, Outflow

Compressible flows: Mass flow inlet, Pressure far-

field
Special: Inlet vent, outlet vent, intake fan, exhaust
fan
Other: Wall, Symmetry, Periodic, Axis

Boundary Condition Types of Cell Boundaries

Fluid and Solid

Boundary Condition Types of Double-Sided Face

Boundaries
Fan, Interior, Porous Jump, Radiator, Walls
ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to
Define Menu
Boundary Conditions
Select Zones

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to
Solve Menu Initialize
Initialize

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to
Solve Menu Monitors

Residuals

The convergence of
solution can also be
changed

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to
Solve Menu Iterate
Iterate

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
How to
Display Menu
Contours
Display Menu Vectors

ME 437/537/637 Ahmadi/Nazridoust
Fluent
Overview
Flow in a Channel
Steady State
Inlet Velocity is known
Outlet is open to atmospheric pressure
No Slip on all walls
Fluid is Water
Desired Grid Resolution is 1500 Hexahedral Cells
x-Velocity = 0.85 m/s
y-Velocity = 0.00 m/s Outflow

15cm

ME 437/537/637 60cm Ahmadi/Nazridoust